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SELECT TRANSLATIONS 



FROM 



THE GREEK 



QUINTUS SMYRN^EUS. 



BY 



ALEXANDER DYCE, A. B. 

OF EXETER COLLEGE, OXFORD. 




OXFORD, 

PRINTED BY W. BAXTER: 

Sold by J. Parke it, Oxford ; and by W. Clarke, New Bond 
Street, London. 

1821. 



.cA 







PREFACE. 



OF Quintus Smyrnaeus, or, as he is more 
commonly called, Quintus Calaber, nothing is 
known. The former surname he has received, 
because Tzetzes a applies it to him, and because 
he himself, in his twelfth book, says, that the 
Muses inspired him, while he was feeding 
sheep near Smyrna : the latter, from his poem 
having been discovered by Cardinal Bessarion 
in a monastery of Calabria. 

His " Supplement to the Iliad" consists of 
fourteen books, of which no translation has 

a Chiliad ii. 489- 
a!2 



IV 

appeared in our language: it is generally sup- 
posed that he borrowed largely from the Cyclic 
poets, chiefly from Lesches b . 

Verbosity being the prevailing fault of Quin- 
tus, I have shortened, in the following trans- 
lations c , several of the speeches and descrip- 
tions : I have also taken the liberty to leave 
out one or two similies, without marking the 
omission by asterisks. 

I have made use of blank verse in pre- 
ference to rhyme, thinking it impossible for 
the latter to convey to an English reader the 
most distant idea of the simple tone of Grecian 



b Heyne's Excurs. I. (de Rerum Trojanarum Auctoribus) ad 
iEn. II. 

c The text of Quintus is so corrupt, that, in order to draw 
a meaning from some passages, I have been obliged to adopt 
the conjectural readings of Pauw. 



poetry: I expect, therefore, to be told by the 
admirers of Pope's Homer that my lines are 
intolerably prosaic. 

A. D. 



CONTENTS. 



Page 

THE Valour and Death of Penthesilea ... 1 

Arrival of Memnon at Troy ; his valiant Deeds and 

Death 39 

The Death of Achilles 67 

The Shield and Helmet of Achilles .... 103 

Notes 113 



THE 
VALOUR AND DEATH 

or 

PENTHES1LEA. 



From Book I. 



A princesse of great powre and greater pride, 
And Queene of Amazons, in armes well tride 
And sundry battels, which she hath atchieved 
With great successe, that her hath glorifide, 
And made her famous, more than is believed. 

Faery Queene, b. v. c. 4. s. 33. 



THE 

VALOUR AND DEATH 

OF 

PENTHESILEA. 



WHEN godlike Hector, by Achilles slain, 
Had fed the pyre, and stor'd within the urn 
His bones were buried ; from their gates no more 
The Trojans issu'd, the surpassing might 
Of fell iEacides afraid to meet. 
As when herds grazing in the vale have seen 
A shaggy lion, from his glaring eyes 
Quick to the neighb'ring groves they scud, and there 
Trembling remain ; thro' fear of Peleus' son 
So in their city lurk'd the bands of Troy : 
For they were mindful how his arm had quell'd 
b C Z 



Unnumber'd heroes, where Scamander's stream 
Rolls eddying to the sea ; how many a youth 
He fiercely slew beside their native walls, 
And how by him the godlike Hector bled, 
The light of Ilion, and his country's hope : 
How, too, in islands of the restless deep 
He slaughter'd many chiefs, while o'er the brine 
He sought the realms of Priam. In their towers, 
Of these things not forgetful, did they sit 
Trembling, and grief within each bosom rose, 
As if already blaz'd with bickering flames 
Devoted Troy. 

Now from Thermodon's flood, 
That widely-flowing laves the Scythian plain, 
Cloth'd in the beauty of Immortals came 
Penthesilea ; eager for the din 
Of war, and wishful the reproach to shun 
Of all her kindred for a grievous deed, 



Tho' undesign'd, that caus'd her ceaseless woe ; 
Since she, while aiming at the mountain -stag, 
Had slain Hyppolita, her sister dear : 
Therefore she came to Troy's illustrious land. 
And now she long'd in the thick ranks of war 
Her crime to expiate, and with her sword 
To offer victims to the Furies dire, 
Who, tho' unseen, pursu'd her, to avenge 
Her sister's blood ; for with unwearied speed 
They chase the guilty, tracking all their steps. 
Her to the war twelve maidens follow'd, each 
Radiant in beauty, and of martial mien •, 
Content to serve her, tho' themselves renown 'd. 
As the bright Moon amid the lesser fires 
Shines with unrivall'd splendour, when dark clouds, 
Breaking, disperse themselves, nor blot the sky, 
So shone the Queen 'mid her attendant train ; 
'Mid Clonie, Evandra, Polemusa, 
b 3 




Derione, Antandra, the divine 

Bremusa, and Harmothoe with eyes 

Of jetty lustre, and Hippothoe, 

Antibrote, Alcibie, Derimachia, 

And Thermodossa glorying in her spear. 

Or, as Aurora from th' Olympian heights 

Descends, rejoicing in her beamy steeds, 

And moves amid the golden-tressed Hours 

Conspicuous ; so came the warrior -maid, 

Peerless amid her Amazons, to Troy. 

Th' admiring Trojans throng'd around to view 

The well-greav'd daughter of the god of war, 

Like one of the celestials ; in her face 

Was terrible beauty ; lovely was her smile ; 

And from beneath her arched brows stream'd keen 

The lightning of her eyes -, while virgin shame 

Deepen'd the soft carnation of her cheek. 

As, when the fields have thirsted long for rain, 



=*--:- 



From some high hill if husbandmen behold 
The streaky Iris spanning the blue wave, 
And heaven obscur'd by gathering clouds, their hearts 
Are gladden'd by the sign of winds and showers ; 
So joy'd the sons of Ilion, when they saw 
Within their walls the Amazonian Queen 
Eager for war ; and hope again reviv'd 
Their drooping hearts. E'en Priam, when he view'd 
The maiden, felt a respite from his woe ; 
As, when a man, whom blindness has oppress'd, 
And who has long'd to see the light, or die, 
Once more, by mortal skill, or heavenly aid, 
Beholds the dawn of the purpureal day, 
Tho' weak his power of vision, and tho' still 
Disease be lurking in his orbs, he feels 
Alleviation of calamity ; 
So hoary Priam half forgot his grief, 
Tho' sorrow for his sons untimely slain 
b 4 



8 

Consumes his heart. 

Straight to the palace then 
Kindly he led the maid, as if she had been 
A daughter of his love, from some far land, 
After long absence, to his fond embrace 
Returning. Splendid was the costly feast, 
Such as great monarchs, having crush'd their foes, 
And proud in victory, are wont to spread. 
Many and beauteous gifts did Priam give 
To the brave Amazon, and said that he 
Would many other precious gifts bestow, 
If she afflicted Troy should succour. Deeds, 
Surpassing mortal strength, the maiden promis'd ; 
To slay Achilles, with her spear destroy 
The bands of Greece, and burn their well- beak'd ships, 
Infatuate ! nor knew she how the son 
Of Peleus rag'd resistless in the fight. 
Her when the daughter of Eetion heard 



9 

So proudly vaunting, to herself she said ; 

" Ah wretch ! what fatal impulse fires thy mind 

" To boast thus foolishly ? No match art thou 

H For fell Achilles, who will soon exult 

" O'er thy pale corse with gory dust defil'd. 

" Hector was far superior in the ranks 

11 Of war to thee, and in his native Troy 

,c Was deem'd a God, and yet by Peleus' son 

" My hero bled : he was the pride of me, 

" And of his hoary parents ; — would that earth 

■• Had held me cold and senseless, ere the spear 

" Had pierc'd my Hector's throat ! ere I had seen, 

" Dragg'd by the victor's steeds round Ilion's walls, 

" The husband of my youth !" Thus to herself 

Spoke fair Andromache, as sad she thought 

On Hector, for chaste matrons long lament 

Their perish'd lords. 

Now sunk the rolling sun 



10 

In ocean's stream profound, and silent night 
Came on. In Priam's hall the feast was o'er, 
And careful damsels for the warrior queen 
Prepar'd the couch. She to her chamber sped, 
And gentle Sleep soon weigh'd her eye-lids down, 
When, by Minerva sent, a fraudful Dream 
Rush'd from the skies, the bane of her and Troy ; 
Her father's awful form the Vision wore, 
And much it urg'd her boldly to contend 
With fleet Achilles: as it spoke, her heart 
Bounded with joy, and confidence arose 
Within her breast, that she some wond'rous deed 
Of valour should perform. Too easy maid, 
Thus credence giving to the shadowy dreams 
Of night, that babble mockeries, and still 
Delude the race of much-enduring men ! 

But when Aurora, rosy-ankl'd, smil'd, 



11 

Penthesilea left her couch, and cloth'd 

Her limbs in armour sheen, the gift of Mars ; 

First to her snowy legs she fitted close 

The golden greaves, and on her tender breast 

Bound the strong plate of variegated mail. 

Then from her shoulder the huge sword she slung 

Proudly, its sheath all exquisitely wrought 

With ivory and silver. Next she took 

Her crescent buckler, like the horned Moon, 

When, gleaming o'er the waves, she climbs the sky 

With half-replenish'd lamp. Her helmet last, 

Its nodding crest bedropt with gold, she plac'd 

Upon her head. In this array, she shone, 

Refulgent, as the forky fires that Jove 

Hurls to earth, the red vaunt- couriers 

Of the big rain-drops, or the roaring winds. 

In her left hand, behind her shield, she bore 

Two jav'lins snatcht in haste, and in her right, 



12 

An axe with double edge, which Discord gave, 

To be the maiden's great defence in war. 

In this exulting, II ion's sacred towers 

She left, exciting to the glorious fray 

The Trojan chiefs, who follow' d her, erewhile 

Afraid to face Achilles. On her steed 

Graceful she sat, a courser fleet of foot 

And beautiful, which to the dauntless maid 

The wife of Boreas Orithyia gave, 

Before she sought the Thracian plains. Thus fate 

Impell'd the beauteous Amazon to lead 

The sons of Troy to battle, few of whom 

Were destined to behold their homes again : 

As the large flock moves on behind the ram, 

Which the wise shepherd in the front hath plac'd, 

So Troy's best warriors, and the manly maids 

Follow'd Penthesilea; while she seem'd 

Like virgin Pallas, when she rush'd against 



13 

Earth's giant brood, or like the tow' ring form 
Of Discord, raging mid the walks of war. 

Meanwhile the son of rich Laomedon 
Turn'd to the temple of Idaean Jove, 
Who still with favouring eye regardeth Troy, 
And thus with lifted hands pour'd forth his prayer : 
" Hear, Sire supreme ! O in this happy day, 
" Beneath the valour of the warrior- queen, 
" Let many a Grecian bite the dust ! but her 
" Back to my palace guide in safety; this 
" Grant for the sake of Mars, thy mighty son, 
" And for the maiden's sake j for she is fair 
" As are th' Immortals, from whose race she springs. 
" Heap not more sorrows on my head, for I 
" Have many ; fate hath snatcht my sons away, 
" While fighting foremost in the battle's heat ; 
" Of the high race of Dardanus but few 



14 

" Survive, and Ilion totters to its fall — 

" O grant some respite from the woes of war !" 

Scarce had he said, when on the left appear'd 

An eagle ; in his talons did he clutch 

A dying dove, and with shrill cry he pass'd 

The startl'd monarch, who too truly deem'd 

That he should never welcome from the fight 

Penthesilea, clad in Argive spoils. 

When from afar the Grecian host beheld 
The sons of Troy advancing to the war 
All proudly, as a band of mountain pards 
Rush on the timid flock ; and when they saw 
Clad in refulgent arms the warrior-maid 
Scouring the plain, like some consuming fire, 
That rages mid the forest's crackling boughs, 
Its fury heighten'd by the fanning winds, 
They thus exclaim'd ; "Who now (since Hector sleeps 



15 

" Among the dead) hath gathered Ilion's sons, 

" And thus excites them to the martial strife, 

" Moving amid them like a deity ? 

" Come then ! let us too in our hearts conceive 

" Heroic confidence, for we to-day 

" Not unregarded by the Gods shall meet 

" The strength of Troy." They said, and from the ships 

Rush'd on the foe. The armies met, and clos'd 

In fatal strife ; loud was the clang of arms ; 

Spear against spear was shiver'd ; helm with helm, 

And buckler clash'd with buckler, while the plain 

Of Troy was purpl'd with their smoking blood. 

Now sunk beneath Penthesilea's might 

Molon, Persinoos, and Lernos brave : 

With her keen lance Derione transfix'd 

Laogonus ; and virgin Clonie slew 

Menippus, who had folio w'd to the war 

Protesilaus, when he left the walls 



16 

Of Phylace to find an early death. 

But when Podarces saw Menippus fall, 

His lov'd companion, furiously he ran 

At Clonie, and forceful drove his spear 

Right thro' her body, and the bowels gush'd, 

Mingl'd with streaming crimson, from the wound. 

Penthesilea, madd'ning at the sight, 

Rais'd her long lance, and at Podarces made 

A thrust ; the swelling muscles of his hand 

The weapon pierc'd, and op'd the spouting veins ; 

Groaning he fled the fight, and from the throng 

Retiring, in his comrades' arms expir'd. 

Idomeneus with deadly spear now gor'd 

Bremusa's snowy bosom, and she fell 

At once to earth with a loud shriek, as falls 

By woodman's stroke upon the echoing hills 

The lofty ash ; her lovely limbs grew cold, 

And her soul mounted on the breeze. Then died, 



17 

Slain by the spear of great Meriones, 
Evandra, and his griding sword laid low 
Fair Thermodossa. Struck by Ajax, fell 
Derione : and next an equal fate 
Derimachia and Alcibia share, 
For Diomed with glancing falchion smites 
Their slender necks, and their plum'd heads are roll'd 
In the dust apart, and backwards, heaving, sink 
Their mutilated trunks : two heifers thus 
Drop at the altar, when the glitt'ring axe 
Descending strikes them panting to the ground. 
Now Sthenelus the brave Cabirus slew, 
Who came from Sestos in defence of Troy, 
Destin'd, alas ! no more to see his home. 
Paris beheld his fall, and wrathful hurl'd 
A dart at Sthenelus, which miss'd its aim, 
And following the direction of the fates 
Pierc'd young Evenor of the brazen helm, 
c 



18 

Who left Dulichium in the cause of Greece. 

******** 

But Polypaetes now Dresaeus slew, 

Whom to Thiodamas Neaera bore 

By snowy Sipylus ; where once the Gods 

Chang'd Niobe to stone, whose plenteous tears 

Still trickle down the rocks, while to her groans 

The streams of Hermus murmur, and the heights 

Of Sipylus reecho, cloth'd in mist : 

To them who pass at distance by the hill 

She seems a woman worn with woe, to them 

Who view her near, a fragment of the rock. 

Loud was the noise of battle ; in the dust 

The flower of either army lay ; nor ceas'd 

Penthesilea to put forth her might ; 

Before her fled the Greeks, while she pursu'd 

As the blue-rolling billow of the deep 

Chaces the ships, that, with their white sails spread, 



1<) 

Run gallantly before the rising gale. 
Smiling severe she cried, " O dogs ! to-day 
" Ye shall atone for Priam's many woes ; 
" For none of all your host shall live to see 
" Parents or wives, escaping from my spear ; 
" But ye shall lie unburied on the plain, 
" The food of vultures. Where your mighty now ? 
" Where is TEacides, and where the son 
" Of Tydeus ? Where is Ajax ? (for ye say 
" That these are powerful in the fight) — lo! they 
" Are loath to meet the fury of my arm, 
" Lest I dispatch them to the land of ghosts." 
She said, and onwards drove the routed foe, 
And now she ply'd her axe, and now her lance, 
While her fleet courser bore her ready bow, 
And quiver full of arrows. Troy's best sons 
Follow'd the Amazon, a dauntless band, 
Brothers, and friends, of Hector great in war : 
c 2 



20 

Fierce at the Greeks they launch'd their ashen spears, 
Who fell before them, thick, as the sere leaves 
In Autumn, or the drops of rain that come 
Dancing to earth ; and with the riders fell 
Their horses pierc'd by darts, and o'er them rush'd 
The Trojan steeds careeringly, and trod 
Their panting carcases, with bloody hoofs. 
But when the Trojans saw the maiden's might, 
And how she scour'd the plain, like some black storm, 
(That tears the bosom of the darken'd deep, 
When now the Sun with Capricorn abides,) 
Thus, by vain hopes elated, one exclaim'd ; 
" Sure some Immortal, in this happy day, 
" Hath left the sky, to combat on our side, 
" By Jove commission'd, from whose lofty line 
" Great Priam springs -, for not of earthly race 
" Is she who leads our warriors, raging thus, 
" In mail relucent, mid the battle's heat. 



21 

" Tis or Bellona, or the blue-ey'd maid, 
'* Or golden-hair'd Latona's virgin child ! 
" I trust full surely that her arm to-day 
" Will cause dire slaughter of the Greeks, and fire 
" Their smoking ships, in which to Ilion came 
" War and unnumber'd woes." He said, nor knew 
That dire misfortune o'er him hung, and o'er 
The wretched Trojans, and the warrior-queen : 
For not as yet the tidings of the fight 
Had mighty Ajax and Achilles heard, 
Who at the tomb of lov'd Patroclus lay, 
Indulging fruitless grief with many a groan. 
Them had some hostile deity detain 'd 
Apart from battle, that the flower of Greece 
Might fall beneath Penthesilea's arm. 
And still the dauntless Amazon pursu'd 
Her bloody work, nor threw her spear in vain, 
But pierc'd the coward back of him that fled, 
c 3 



Or gor'd the breast of an advancing toe. 

Conceal'd in clouds Fate mark'd the fight, and gave 

This glory to the maiden, soon, alas ! 

Destin'd to fall by Peleus' matchless son. 

As when the wanton heifer in the spring 

Breaks thro' the dewy gardens pale, and roams 

Amid luxuriant beds of opening blooms, 

Devouring some, and trampling some to earth ; 

So rush'd the martial maiden thro' the fray, 

And now the Greeks she slew, and now she chas'd. 

Meantime the dames of Troy at distance view'd 
The conflict, wond'ring at the maiden's deeds ; 
And straight the eager love of battle seiz'd 
Hippodamia, (whom her sire had given 
A bride to brave Tisiphonus,) and thus, 
Exciting all around her, she exclaim d -, 
" Come, friends ! let us too in our hearts conceive 



23 

" A martial spirit, such as now inflames 
** Our warriors lighting for their native walls -, 
" For not in strength are we inferior much 
u To men ; the same our eyes, our limbs the same ; 
" One common light we see, one air we breathe ; 
" Nor different is the food we eat : what then 
" Denied to us, hath heaven on man bestow'd? 
" O let us hasten to the glorious war ! 
" Behold ! where yon fair Amazon excels 
" Our heroes in the strife, and dauntless fights, 
" Far from her kindred, and her native town, 
" To aid a foreign monarch : Then shall we, 
" On whom misfortune presses j who have seen 
" Our husbands, and our children cold in death ; 
" Who for our sires have rais'd the loud lament, 
" And for our brothers ; (since we each have known 
*' Some dire calamity,) on whom besides 
'? The expectation hangs of servitude 5 
c 4 



24 

" Shall we, so much afflicted, now delay 

" To mingle in the war ? 'Tis better sure 

" To fall in battle, than hereafter led 

" Poor widow'd captives from our much-lov'd home, 

" To swell the victor's train, while we behold 

" Red fires consuming Ilion's sacred towers." 

Thus she exclaim'd, and all the women felt 

The love of battle, and they long'd to rush, 

In armour clad, to guard their native walls : 

And as the bees when winter now is o'er, 

Murmur within the hive, while they prepare 

To issue forth, and roam the flowery fields, 

And one excites the other to make haste ; 

So, eager for the fight, the Trojan dames 

Each other fir'd ; and seizing deadly arms, 

They cast the distaff and the wool aside. 

And now full sure, upon the bloody plain, 

They must have died beside their slaughter'd friends, 



25 

Had not Theano, for her prudence fam'd, 

Restrain'd their fury. " Wherefore thus," she cried, 

" Haste ye, infatuate, to the fight, unskiH'd 

" In deeds of war, and most unfit to cope 

" With heroes train'd to arms, the flower of Greece ? 

" Yon Amazon was bred to war, and taught 

' ' To mount the steed, and mingle in the strife j 

" Her mind is dauntless, and her limbs are strong, 

" And Mars, they say, begot her : think not then 

" To equal her in valour or in might. 

" Back to your homes return, and ply the loom, 

" And leave the conduct of the war to men. 

" Let hope once more your bosoms cheer, for, lo ! 

" The Grecians fall before the swords of Troy, 

" And till the foe hath closely girt our towers, 

<• We shall not need the aid of female hands." 

She said, nor did the women disobey, 

Content to view the battle from afar. 



2(> 

Still rag'd the combat on the plain, and still 
Before the Amazon the routed Greeks 
Fell in huge heaps, as by a spotted pard 
The bleating goats are slain ; nor longer now 
Did they attempt her fury to resist. 
Some cast their arms away, and fled the fight, 
And some, exhausted, on the bloody ground 
Lay down to die, and frighted steeds were seen 
Masterless flying ; while triumphant joy 
The maiden felt, and her exulting bands. 
As when a ruffian tempest takes the trees 
By their green tops, and some uprooted quite 
Dashes to earth with all their blossom'd boughs, 
Of some it breaks in twain the trunks, while flowers 
And shiver'd branches strew the neighb'ring fields ; 
So lay the Grecians in the dust, o'erthrown 
By fate, and by the maid's unerring lance. 
But now the noise of battle reach'd the ear 



27 

Of Ajax, and he thus address'd his friend ; 

" Achilles, hark ! mine ear hath caught the sound 

" Of distant battle — let us seek the ships, 

" Lest, while we linger here, the sons of Troy 

" Give them to flames, and that to us would be 

" Reproach disgraceful. From high Jove our sires 

" Derive their lineage, and in former days 

" They, while Laomedon the sceptre held, 

" Laid waste, with Hercules, the Trojan towers. 

" O be our deeds and our success like theirs, 

w Since not inferior is our strength !" He said, 

Nor did Achilles not assent, for he 

Himself had heard the tumult of the fight. 

Straight to the war they bent their way, and loud 

Their armour rattled, as they strode along 

In their great strength exulting, which on them 

Minerva, buckler'd goddess, had bestow'd. 

Joy seiz'd the fainting Greeks when they beheld 



•28 

The valiant pair advancing, in their port 

Like to the giants of Titanic race, 

Who strove to scale the starry heaven, and mount 

Upon th' accumulated hills. And now 

Before them fell the sons of Troy, as falls 

The helpless flock, by two fierce lions torn, 

While careless shepherds wander far away. 

First Ajax slew Deiochus, and next 

Hyllus, Eurynomus, and many more : 

By Peleus' son Antandra died, and then 

Hippothoe, Antibrote, and fair 

Harmothoe, and Polymusa brave. 

Thus rag'd the twain mid phalanxes overthrown, 

As flames that wanton in the shady wood, 

Fann'd by the winds. 

Penthesilea now 
Perceiv'd them moving thro' the ranks, and rush'd 
To meet them : and as hunters wait th' attack 



29 

Of hungry tigress, when she onward comes, 

Her brindl'd sides still lashing with her tail ; 

So stood the heroes with uplifted spears 

Waiting the Amazon. A dart she threw 

First at Achilles 5 on his ample shield 

Lighting, it started back with broken point, 

Such was the virtue of Vulcanian arms. 

Another javelin straight she took, and aim'd 

At Ajax, thus loud threatening both ; " One spear 

" Hath left my hand in vain, but I expect, 

" With this which now I hold, to lay you both 

" Low in the dust, who boast yourselves to be 

" Chief of the Greeks ; that Dion's hapless sons 

'* May feel a respite from the woes of war. 

" Advance, and try my strength ! that ye may know 

" What valour dwells within a female heart. 

" Of mortal race I spring not, for my sire 

" Is the great god of battle, mailed Mars, 



30 

" Insatiate of the fight; and therefore I 

" Am far superior to the seed of men." 

Thus spoke she vaunting, and the heroes laugh'd ; 

Quick flew her spear, and pierc'd the silver greave 

Of Ajax, but it enter'd not the flesh 

By fate restrain'd : the warrior turn'd away 

Contemptuous, and left the dauntless maid 

To fall by Peleus' son, as falls the dove 

By the fierce hawk. 

Penthesilea groan 'd 
When she beheld her weapons cast in vain, 
While thus with cruel scorn Achilles cried ; 
" Woman! how empty were thy boastful threats, 
<£ As eager for the fight thou did'st advance 
" 'Gainst us, to whom no peers on earth are found ! 
** For we are sprung from Saturn's thund'ring son, 
*« And Hector, when he view'd us from afar 
*' Rush to the combat, shook with sudden dread: 



:31 

" Mine was the spear that laid him low, in spite 

" Of all his valour, and I deem thee mad 

" Who dar'st thus boldly face me ; but no more 

" Shalt thou the golden morning see, nor shall 

" Thy vaunted parent snatch thee from my rage, 

" Doom'd now to perish, as the timid hind 

" Dies on the mountains, by a lion slain. 

" Hast thou not heard that by my arm have fall'n 

" Unnumber'd warriors, whose disfigur'd limbs 

" Red Xanthus rolls in eddies to the deep ? 

" Sure, if the tale has reach'd thine ear, the Gods 

" Have driv'n thee mad, and sent thee here to meet 

•' Thy death." So saying a long spear he rais'd 

With deadly point, which skilful Chiron made, 

And sudden pierc'd the maiden's tender breast, 

O'er the right orb of snow, and from the wound 

Dark gush'd the crimson tide ; her drooping hand 

Let fall the weighty axe, and gathering clouds 



32 

Hover'd before her eyes, while thrilling pains 

Shot thro' her body. Yet did life remain, 

And on the hero with bewilder' d look 

She gaz'd ; and now she thought it best to draw 

Her sword, and wait the onset of the foe, 

As he advanc'd to drag her from her steed ; 

And now she deem'd it best the hero's knees 

Suppliant to clasp, and offer plenteous store 

Of gold and brass, imploring him to spare 

The life of one not older than himself. 

While thus she waver'd in her mind, the Gods 

Infus'd great wrath into Achilles' heart ; 

Her and her courser he at once transfix'd 

With fatal thrust, and down to earth she fell, 

In modest attitude, above her steed, 

And on her face, defil'd with dust, she lay, 

Writhing around the spear. So falls the fir, 

Uptorn by Boreas, that beside some stream 



33 

Hath flourish'd long, the beauty of the vale. 

But when the Trojans saw the maiden slain, 

They fled to Ilion from the bloody field, 

Mourning the daughter of the mighty Mars, 

While o'er her body thus the victor proud 

Laughing exulted ; '* Lie thou there, the food 

" Of birds and beasts ! Ah wretch ! what counsellor 

" In evil hour advis'd thee to oppose 

" Thyself to me? Perchance thou didst expect 

'* Smear'd with the gore of Argives to return 

u From battle, and from Priam to obtain 

tC Rich gifts ; but heaven hath otherwise decreed, 

" And thou hast perish'd in thy prime by me, 

" The light of Greece; the bane of thee and Troy. 

" Ah fool ! to leave the loom, and female tasks, 

*« For war; which e'en the bravest dread." He spoke, 

And from the body of the warrior-maid, 

And from her steed, he drew the spear, and both 

D 



34 

Heav'd for a moment : next, her beamy helm, 
That shed a trembling radiance, like the sun, 
Or Jove's own lightnings, from her head he took, 
And all her lovely features were display'd 
Serene in death. The Greeks, when they beheld 
The maiden, wonder' d, since they saw her fair 
As any Goddess ; for in armour sheen 
Array'd, she lay, like Dian, when she sleeps 
Among the mountains, wearied with the chase : 
Venus, the paramour of mighty Mars, 
Increas'd her beauty e'en in death, that grief 
Might touch Achilles' bosom ; many wish'd 
That they, returning to their native land, 
Might share the bed of such a beauteous wife, 
And the proud victor mourn'd that he had slain 
The valiant maid, nor borne her as a bride 
To Phthia, fam'd for generous steeds ; for she 
Was beautiful, and faultless in her form, 



36 

As are the habitants of heaven. 

Now Mars 
Sudden from blue Olympus downwards rush'd, 
Pierc'd by keen sorrow for his daughter dear, 
Whose fate to him the winged Breezes told, 
The progeny of Boreas. Down he flew 
Swift as the tempest, and on Ida's top 
Lighted ; the mountain knew the Deity, 
And ail her deep-rent caverns, her long vales, 
And lucid streams were shaken. And full sure 
He to the Myrmidons a day of woe 
Would have afforded, had not angry Jove 
Sent thunders from on high, and forky fires, 
That flash'd incessant round the God of war, 
And play'd before his feet. Unwillingly 
From his fell purpose he desists, and turns 
Another way, (for all th' Olympians dread 
The majesty of Jove,) else headlong hurl'd 
d 2 



36 

With flaming thunderbolts he must have lain 
Amid the Titans in Tartarian gloom. 

Meantime the Grecians traversing the plain 
Stript their dead foes, intent on bloody spoils, 
But great Achilles felt exceeding grief, 
As on the body of the maid he gaz'd, 
Mourning for her not less than for the death 
Of his belov'd Patroclus. 
******** 

Now the sons 
Of Atreus, touch'd with pity for the fate, 
And much admiring the surpassing form, 
Of the brave Amazon, restor'd her corse, 
Her mail, and courser, to the Trojan king, 
Who in the tomb of great Laomedon 
Desir'd to bury them with honours due. 
Before the walls of Troy he rais'd a pyre 



.37 

Lofty and broad ; upon its top he laid 
Penthesilea, and beside her plac'd 
Such riches as should feed the funeral fires 
Of wealthy queens. Devouring Vulcan quick 
Consum'd the bodv, and the people round 
Pour'd fragrant wine to quench the hissing flame. 
Her gather'd bones mid ointment in an urn 
They stor'd, but first they wrapt them in the fat 
Of a fair heifer rear'd on Ida's hill ; 
Then in the tomb of great Laomedon 
Laid them with tears and lamentations loud 
As if they mourn'd a daughter. By her side 
They gave to earth the Amazons who fell 
With her in battle ; nor did Atreus' sons 
Forbid the Trojans from the field to bear 
The bodies of their kindred, since no more 
Ought rage against a slaughter'd foe to dwell 
d S 



38 

Within a hero's breast, but he should feel 
Some touch of pity for a brave man dead. 



ARRIVAL OF MEMNON 

AT TROY; 
HIS VALIANT DEEDS, AND DEATH. 



From Book II. 



n d lift TOTf&tU 

Mtfivovos ougxvr/iv vtQiXn* tvtSutrctro ftrirtig, 
<$>iyyo$ vtfoxivtratra. xawityioi v/autos Ha/j. 



Tryphiod. 2.9. 



B 4 



ARRIVAL OF MEMNON 

AT TROY; 
HIS VALIANT DEEDS, AND DEATH. 



AND now the fair Aurora's valiant son, 

Memnon, the ruler of the swarthy race 

Of Ethiopia, with a numerous band, 

To Ilion came -, and all the Trojans felt 

Exceeding joy, like that which sailors feel, 

If thro' the sable clouds they view the Bear 

Bright peering, when the tempest long hath rag'd, 

And wrapt the heavens in gloom. But Priam most 

Rejoicing, trusted that the Ethiop troops, 

A powerful host, would burn the ships of Greece; 

And now to Memnon precious gifts he gave, 



42 

And led him to the feast ,• and, while the bowls 

Sparkle with wine, the story he relates 

Of all his sorrows, and describes the chiefs, 

The flower of Greece. Then, in return, his guest 

Tells how fair-hair'd Aurora on his sire 

Bestow d perpetual life, and next recounts 

The many wonders of the ocean- waves, 

And of those distant regions of the earth, 

Thro' which he pass'd, while journeying from the clime 

Where Phoebus rises, till he reach'd the walls 

Of sacred Troy, and Ida's fountful hill. 

He also tells how 'mid the Lycian wilds 

The Solymi oppos'd him, and forbade 

His progress thro' their country, but they met 

Rout and dire slaughter. To his words with joy 

Old Priam listening, seiz'd his hand, and said ; 

(< Memnon ! the Gods have let me now behold 

" Thee and thy warriors in my hall, and soon 



43 

" I hope that they will greater favour shew 

" To me unfortunate, when I shall view 

" The Grecians fall in heaps beneath thy spear; 

" For more than all the other sons of earth 

" Art thou in form like the immortals. Come ! 

" With wine delight thy soul, and let us think 

" Of war to-morrow." Thus the monarch spoke, 

Then pledg'd the chief in a capacious cup, 

Golden and fram'd by art divine ; (a gift 

Which to Almighty Jove lame Vulcan brought 

Upon his nuptial day, when he espous'd 

The queen of Love ; the sire of Gods bestow'd 

The cup on Dardanus, who gave it next 

To Erichthoniusj Tros receiv'd it then, 

And left it, with his wealth, to be possess'd 

By Ilus ; he to great Laomedon 

Gave it ; and last to Priam' s lot it fell, 

Who hop'd to leave it to his sons, but heaven 



44 

Had otherwise decreed:) the beauteous cup 

Memnon admiring took, and said; " To boast, 

" And vauntingly to promise to perform 

" Deeds of emprise, while at the board we sit, 

" Is most unseemly : in the hour of fight, 

" Which proves the worth of man, thou shalt behold 

" If I am valiant, or of coward heart. 

" But let us now to sleep, nor during night 

" Protract the feast ; for on the battle's eve 

" Much wine is hurtful, and the want of rest 

" Is grievous." Thus the swarthy leader spoke, 

On whom with wonder gazing Priam said ; 

" No longer, Memnon, at the feast remain 

" Than suits thy pleasure. Sorry should I be 

* Him to detain, who longs to quit the board, 

" Or from the banquet him to drive, who wills 

" To stay." He said, and straight together rose 

The host and well-pleas'd guests; and to his couch 



45 

Each then repairing laid him down to sleep. 

Now in the starry dome of heaven the Gods 
Were feasting, whom the lightning-gatherer Jove, 
With bosom thoughtful on the coming war 
Address'd ; " Immortals ! of to-morrow's fight 
" Ye know the dire disasters; from his car 
' ' Shall many a chief be hurl'd, and fiery steeds 
" Beside their lifeless rulers on the plain 
" Shall gasp in death. Let then no God approach 
" My throne, to clasp my knees, and to entreat 
" That from his much-lov'd offspring or his friend 
(i Destruction may be turn'd, since e'en to me 
" Relentless Fate is deaf." He said, and all 
Th' Olympians sorrowing sought their golden beds, 
For not the power of slumber do the Gods 
Disdain to court. 

When o'er the dewy hills 



40 

Resplendent Lucifer, whose sparkling gem 

Awakes the reaper to his pleasing toil, 

Was bright in heaven, and when her rosy gates 

Aurora open'd with unwilling hand, 

The valiant Memnon started from his couch, 

Eager for war ; and then the sons of Troy, 

And the bold iEthiops, cioth'd their limbs in mail, 

And all th' auxiliar bands. Now from the walls 

They rush'd impetuous forth, like rolling clouds 

That fill the angry skies when tempests howl, 

Or like voracious locusts, that in swarms 

Borne thro* the darken'd air upon the gale, 

Destroy the promise of the youthful year. 

Beneath their feet the dust, like eddying smoke, 

Rose as they scour'd the plain ; but when the Greeks 

Beheld them from afar, their arms they snatch'd, 

Trusting in Peleus' son, who mid them stood. 

Huge as a Titan, glorying in his car 



47 

And deathless steeds. As when from ocean's depth. 
Whose waves caerulean glow with molten gold, 
Phoebus arises, dazzling eye of day, 
So shone Achilles in refulgent arms. 
Nor less conspicuous mid the bands of Troy 
Memnon appear'd, like mailed Mars, and all 
The troops rush'd on, exulting in their chief. 
And now the hostile armies meet, and close 
In battle, plying with unwearied strength 
Their ashen spears, and dismal groans are heard. 
As is the sound of streams that to the sea 
Impetuous flow, swoln by the pelting showers, 
That Jove sends down from black, fire-flashing, 

clouds, 
Such was the noise of war upon the plain, 
For earth resounded, and the loud uproar 
Reach 'd the blue vault of heaven. Pelides slew 
Thalius and Mentes, both of valiant heart, 



48 

And many heroes more he struck to ground, 

As from their deep foundations the wild blast 

Hurls lofty towers. But on the other side 

Aurora's son mov'd thro' the fight, and shed 

Dismay around j and Pheron first he slew 

Piercing his bosom with long lance, and next 

Ereuthus, both enamour'd of the strife, 

Who left their native Thryon by the flood 

Of fair Alpheus, following in the train 

Of aged Nestor when he came to Troy. 

These Memnon slew, and of their arms despoil'd, 

Then rush'd with fury 'gainst the Pylian chief; 

But brave Antilochus before him ran 

To guard his sire, and cast a quivering spear 

At the dark prince, who quickly bent his head 

The blow avoiding, and the weapon pass'd 

O'er his plum'd helm, and gor'd an Ethiop's breast. 

When Memnon saw his lov'd companion fall, 



49 

As the fierce lion flies against the boar, 
He rush'd on Nestor's warlike son, but he 
Rais'd a large stone, and hurl'd it at the foe ; 
The weight descended on his shining casque, 
With clattering noise, tho' harmless ; anger then 
Seiz'd bright Aurora's son, and thro' the heart 
Of young Antilochus he drove his spear, 
And life for ever fled. But when the Greeks 
Beheld his death, they felt exceeding grief; 
And most his father, hoary Nestor, mourn'd, 
For no affliction more severe awaits 
The race of men, than when a father views 
Before his eyes the offspring of his love 
Untimely slain : then loudly thus he call'd 
On Thrasymedes ; ' ' Hither haste, my son ! 
" And from the body of thy brother dear 
" Aid me to chase the murderer, or let us 
" Together die in the attempt. If fear 



50 

" Restrain thy steps, no longer must thou boast 

" That thou art Nestor's son, nor kindred claim 

" With Periclymenus of high renown, 

*' Who dar'd to meet e'en Hercules in arms. 

' ' Haste fearless then ! for to the weaker side 

". Necessity unwonted strength supplies." 

He said, and straight t' avenge his brother's death 

Rush'd Thrasymedes sorrowing ; with him went 

Phereus, the lov'd companion and the friend 

Of young Antiochus. As mid the brakes 

Of cloud-capt mountains, when the hunters keen 

Assault the snouted boar, he boldly turns 

To meet their onset, so great Memnon turn'd 

Waiting the heroes. On they came, and threw 

Their spears in vain, for hovering o'er her child 

Aurora bade the deadly weapons fly 

Far from his body ; but they did not light 

Unstain'd with blood, for one thrill'd thro* the breast 



51 

Of Meges' son, Polymnius, and one 
O'erthrew Laomedon. And Meranon now, 
Regardless of the twain, who 'gainst him came, 
Was stripping from the limbs of Nestor's son 
His brazen mail; when loud th' unhappy sire, 
Who not far off perceiv'd the cruel deed, 
Call'd on his train t' advance, and snatch the corse. 
And would himself have dar'd the Ethiop chief 
From his high car, and in the dust full sure 
He must have lain beside his slaughter'd son, 
Had not great Memnon (for he reverenced much 
His years, that equall'd his own father's age,) 
Address'd him thus as he approach'd; " O sire ! 
" It is not fit that I should fight with thee ; 
" For I expected to have found thee strong 
" In manhood's prime ; and my bold spirit hop'd 
" To meet a foe well- worthy of my spear ; 
M Back from the strife, and quit the bloody field ! 
e 2 



52 

" Lest I unwilling strike thee to the earth 

fi Beside thy breathless son, and lest mankind 

" Deem thee a madman, who in battle sought' st 

" A match unequal." Memnon said, and him 

Thus Nestor answer'd ; " Foolish are thy words, 

" O eastern prince ! for men will never say 

" That I am mad, because I tried to chase 

" From the cold body of my much-lov'd son 

" His ruthless slayer. In the flower of youth 

" Exulting, thou art arrogant and vain. 

" Would that I too were in my prime ! — and then 

u No more thy friends should have to vaunt of thee, 

u And of thy valour ; but a weight of years 

" Now press upon me. As an aged lion 

" Is from the sheep-fold driven by the dog, 

" Unable to resist, since all his teeth 

" Are worn by time, and in his stiffen'd limbs 

" Strength dwells no longer ; so am I repell'd 



53 

" By thee, the vigour of my early clays 

" For ever gone. To many heroes still 

" Am I superior, and I yield to few." 

He said retreating from the fight, and left 

The body of his son : with him retir'd 

Phereus.and Thrasymedes, and his train, 

Unable to withstand great Memnon's might, 

Who chas'd them o'er the plain. As when a stream 

Rolls in deep eddies from the lofty hills, 

Its banks o'erflowing with resounding noise, 

While Jove hath shrouded the blue sky with clouds 

/ 
In horrid strife commingling, that send forth 

Fire and loud thunders, and while torrent rain 
Floods all the plashy ground ; such tumult rose, 
When Memnon drove the Grecians o'er the field 
To Helle's tide, and pressing on their rear 
Caus'd direful slaughter, deluging with gore 
The slippery earth. Round him his chosen friends 
e 3 



54 

Fought dauntless, Nychius, and Alcioneus, 
Cladon, Meneclus, and Asiades, 
And many more, all eager for the strife, 
And trusting in the valour of their prince. 
But now Meneclus, as he chas'd the Greeks, 
Was by old Nestor slain, and Memnon wroth 
To view his fall, destroy'd full many a foe. 
As when the hunter, with his joyous train 
Of active youths, drives huddling to the toils 
An herd of stags, then slays them with his spear, 
While loudly bark the dogs ; so Memnon caus'd 
Dire havoc of the Greeks, who from him fled 
As in a valley fly the startled kine 
And sheep, to shun the fury of a stone, 
That from the mountain-top by lightning riv'n 
Rolls down with horrid crash. 

To Peleus' son 
Now Nestor sorrowing came, and thus he spoke ; 



55 

" Achilles, bulwark of the Grecian host ! 
" My much-lov'd son Antilochus lies dead, 
" And the proud victor swarthy Memnon keeps 
" His shining mail. O aid me, mighty chief! 
i{ To save the body from devouring dogs; 
'* For he alone deserves the name of friend, 
" Who, when his dear companion is no more, 
" Still cherishes his memory, and longs 
" T avenge his death." He said, and Peleus' son 
Was seiz'd with grief, and looking o'er the plain 
Beheld where Memnon chas'd the routed Greeks, 
And 'gainst him straight with burning rage he rush'd, 
Leaving the bands of Troy, who from his spear 
Were flying. But the bright Aurora's son 
Rais'd a huge stone (which careful husbandmen 
Had as a land-mark plac'd) and hurl'd it full 
At swift Achilles, who with lifted shield 
Receiv'd the weight, and who advancing quick 
e 4 



56 

On foot, (for he his matchless steeds had left 

Apart from battle,) with protended spear 

On the right shoulder struck his valiant foe. 

The wounded Memnon at Achilles aim'd 

His forceful lance, and in his arm the point 

Enter'd, and forth the red blood gush'd, while thus 

Aurora's son, in vain exulting, cried ; 

'« Now shalt thou surely fall beneath my might, 

" Wretch! who hast slain the bravest youths of Troy, 

" Boasting that thou of heroes art the chief, 

" And from a Nereid born ; but thou to-day 

?* Shalt cease thy vaunts for ever, for I spring 

" From blest Aurora, goddess of the dawn, 

" And me th' Hesperides, as lilies fair, 

<( Rear'd in their bowers beside the ocean-streams. 

" I hold thy strength in war but slight, thy birth 

" Being than mine less noble, since I know 

" How much an heavenly goddess doth excel 



57 

" A Nereid of the deep. My mother gives 

" The rosy light (a precious benefit) 

" To Gods and men, who in the gift rejoice, 

" But still inglorious doth thy mother sit 

" Low in the sunless caverns of the sea 

'• Amid the wallowing fishes; therefore I 

*' Deem her most worthless, when compared to them 

" Who tread th' Olympian floor." He said, and him 

iEacides bespoke j e< Of reason sure 

" Thy mind, O Memnon ! is depriv'd, that thus 

" Incites thee here to meet me in the strife, 

" Who am to thee superior far, in form, 

^' In strength, and birth , since from great Jove I 

spring, 
" And from the blood of Nereus, who begot 
" The fifty Nereids; them th' Olympian Gods 
" Honour, but Thetis most they prize, for she 
" The ivy-crowned Bacchus in her halls 



58 

" Hid from the fury of the Thraeian king, 

" And she lame Vulcan in her home receiv'd 

" When his dread sire had cast him from the sky ; 

IC Nay more, the fetters of almighty Jove 

u She loos'd. But thou ere long shalt feel that I 

" Of a true goddess am the son, when thro* 

" Thy breast my spear hath thrill'd, which pierc'd 

the heart 
" Of Hector, who my lov'd Patroclus slew, 
<e And which is destin'd now to lay thee low 
" Avenging my Antilochus — but why 
" Stand we, like children, combating with words, 
" Vaunting our lineage, while to deadly fight 
" Mars doth impel us." Thus he spoke, and each 
Drew his long sword, and 'gainst the other rush'd. 
Upon their bucklers, which by art divine 
Vulcan had fram'd, loud rung the clanging blows, 
While crest to crest was nodding, and their helms 



59 

Clash' (1 frequent. More than mortal strength did 

Jove 
On both bestow, and made them like to Gods, 
And Discord joy'd to view the fight. And now 
Between the shield, and lofty crest, they aim'd 
Their blows, and now they strove to pierce the flesh 
Between the greaves, and variegated plate 
That guards the breast. 
■*■****■**■* 

But now from starry heaven 
Look'd down th' Olympian Powers to mark the fight; 
And some the son of Peleus most admir'd, 
And some, the swarthy Memnon. In the deep 
Amid her green-hair'd sisters, Thetis sat 
Trembling ; while sad Aurora in her car 
Beheld the combat, and around her stood 
With downcast eyes the daughters of the Sun, 
In that bright circle which great Jove hath given 



60 

Unto their sire to run bis annual course. 
And then full sure among the blessed Gods 
Contention must have risen, had not their king 
Sent to the warlike pair two Fates - } the one 
Of mournful look to Memnon bent her way; 
The other sought Achilles, of serene 
And joyous aspect ; and th' Immortals all 
Utter'd a shout, of gladness some, and some 
Of sorrow. But regardless of the Fates 
That join'd them, still the matchless heroes fought-' 
Thou would' st have deem'd them of Titanic race, 
For, whether they their swords unwearied ply'd, 
Or at each other fragments of huge stones 
Impetuous hurl'd, still neither to his foe 
Yielded one foot of ground, but both, like rocks, 
Stood tow'ring, proud of their celestial birth, 
And cloth'd in might Long did they thus contend, 
(The while around them fought their valiant friends,) 






61 

Till Discord held the scales of war on high, 

And lo! one sunk; and straight thro' Memnon's 

breast 
Achilles drove his sword, and the sharp point 
Came out behind, and life for ever fled 
In a black gush of blood, while down to earth 
He fell, and loudly rung his gorgeous mail. 
Then stript the Myrmidons his corse ; then ran 
The Trojans from the fight, and like a storm 
Achilles chas'd them. 

But Aurora hid 
With many a groan, her radiant face in clouds, 
Diffusing darkness o'er the troubled sky ; 
And, at her bidding, quick together rush'd 
The Winds, her offspring, to the Trojan plain, 
And crowding round great Memnon's corse, aloft 
Caught it, and mourning bore it thro' the air. 
As on they mov'd, from his cold limbs distill'd 



(32 

Large drops of gore -, and these the Gods collect 
Into one stream, and make a river fair, 
By them who dwell near Ida's woody ridge 
Call'd Paphlagonius : when returns the day 
On which great Meranon died, its waves assume 
A crimson hue, and from their depth ascends 
A noisome exhalation, and the smell 
Of blood that flows from some corrupted wound. 
Swiftly the Winds their mournful burden bore 
Skimming the ground, nor did the Ethiop band 
(Of whom the war had spar'd a few) remain 
Ling'ring behind their leader, for the Gods 
Gave them surpassing swiftness, and they ran 
Following the Winds with lamentations loud. 
As when with piteous howl the faithful hounds 
Follow their master, whom the boar hath slain, 
And whom the son-owing huntsmen in their arms 
Bear thro' the forest, so the Ethiop band, 






63 

Wrapt in thick clouds, pursued the winged Winds, 
And in amazement Greeks and Trojans stood 
To view them vanish from the plain. 

But when 
The Winds at the deep-rolling stream arriv'd 
Of old iEsepus, (where in after times 
The daughters of the river rais'd a mound 
O'er Memnon's corse, and planted waving trees,) 
They laid the body in a beauteous grove. 
Now set the Sun, and gliding down from heaven 
Aurora came with tearful eyes ; on her 
Attend the twelve fair-tressed maids, who guard 
The circle in which Phoebus moves, and guide 
The changeful year. With piercing cries they 

mourn 
For Memnon, and the Pleiades with them 
Mingle loud lamentations, while the hills 
And deep ^sepus' echoing streams reply. 



64 

Then sad Aurora clasp'd the pallid form 

Of her lov'd son, and thus exclaim'd, " My child ! 

M Untimely hast thou perish'd, and to me 

M Hast caus'd unceasing sorrow. Ne'er will I 

" Pour on the Gods my rosy light again, 

" But down to Pluto's dark, infernaL realm 

" Will I descend, where 'mid the lurid air 

" Thy Shade flits mournful; that e'en Saturn's son 

" May grieve, when he astonish'd shall behold 

" Chaos return, and that he then may know 

" That I, who cherish all things by my rays, 

• ■ Am not less noble than a Nereid — then, 

" To fill the place of me despis'd, aloft 

" Let him bear Thetis to the sky, to give 

" Light to the world ; for 1 will headlong haste 

" To Pluto's gloomy mansion, lest my beams 

" Illume the paths of him who slaughter'd thee." 

She said ; and from her streaming eyes pour'd forth 



— — — — ■- ■ 



Ambrosial tears above the senseless corse, 

And ancient Night, to please her daughter dear, 

Shed treble darkness o'er the starless sky. 

For Memnon much the Trojans griev'd, but grief 

Mingl'd with joy the Grecians felt, the might 

Of Peleus' son extolling, and with groans 

Bewailing young Antilochus. And still 

Aurora mourn'd, nor thought upon the dawn, 

While ner fleet steeds beside her stamp*d the ground, 

Eager to paw the fleecy clouds, when Jove 

Dreadfully thunder'd, wroth at her delay ; 

Then shook the heaving world, and terror seiz'd 

Aurora, tho' immortal. 

Now the troops 
Of Ethiopia laid their chief in earth 
With lamentations loud -, and while they mourn'd, 
Aurora chang'd them into black-plum 'd birds, 
That cut the liquid air, and still retain 



66 

The name of their lov'd leader. O'er his tomb 
Hovering, they scatter dust, and to enhance 
His funeral honours, in two bands distinct, 
Meet in dire conflict. Long they fight, until 
From either party comes a champion bold 
To join in single strife ; nor fails the war 
Till one or both drop lifeless on the tomb. 

Aurora joy'd to view the fight, and now 
The lovely Hours, in robes of varied hue, 
With sweet persuasion led her up the sky. 
Still did she grieve, but fearing much the threats 
Of Jove, who rules the swelling of the sea, 
The verdant earth, and star-bespangled heaven, 
No longer she delay'd ; before her mov'd 
The Pleiades ; and then the gates of light 
Her glowing hands unbarr'd, and pour'd the day, 



THE 

DEATH OF ACHILLES. 



From Book III. 



ro\turo{. 

Soph. Phil. 334. 



F 2 



THE 

DEATH OF ACHILLES. 



JNOW met the hostile armies on the plain^ 
And quick in conflict join'd ; beneath the might 
Of Peleus' son unnumber'd Trojans fell, 
And all the grass was red with gore, and scarce 
Xanthus and Simois to the sea could run, 
By floating dead retarded. To their walls 
He drove the trembling enemy, and sure 
He would have slain them all ; and to the ground 
Dashing the gates unhing'd, or breaking sheer 
Their massive bars, he w r ould have op'd a way 
For his exulting warriors to have sack'd 
f 3 



70 

The wealthy town ; had not Apollo left 
The starry mansions, and confronted straight 
The victor. Loudly rung his quiver, stor'd 
With shafts that give th* immedicable wound ; 
Flash'd from his eye-balls angry fires; and shook 
The heaving earth, while dreadfully the God, 
(Thinking to daunt Pelides, and to save 
The hapless Trojans from his deadly spear,) 
Exclaim'd, ' ' Back, son of Peleus ! from the bands 
" Of Troy restrain thine arm, or thou shalt feel 
" The wrath of an Immortal!" Thus he spoke, 
But great Achilles at his awful voice 
Not trembl'd, (for the Fates severe were now 
Hovering around him,) and with haughty tone 
And loud he answer'd, ft Why, Latona's son ! 
" Aiding perfidious Troy, dost thou compel 
" Me, tho' unwilling, to contend with Gods ? 
" Once did'st thou grieve me heretofore, in clouds 



71 

" Snatching devoted Hector from my rage, 
" In whom the Trojans gloried — but I now 
" Bid thee begone, and seek the seats above, 
" Lest thee, immortal as thou art, I strike." 
He said, then turn'd away, and chas'd the foe, 
That fled in wild disorder. 

But the God 
Burn'd with exceeding wrath, and thus apart 
Exclaim'd; " Infuriate madman! Jove himself 
" No more will brook this insolence, that dares 
" Defy the Powers of heaven." He said, and wrapt 
His form in mist, and from his twanging bow 
An arrow sent, that thro' the ankle thrill'd 
Of Peleus' son : pain seiz'd him, and he fell 
Like some tall tower, by th' earthquake's toppling 

shock 
Hurl'd to the plain precipitate. Around 
He cast his eyes, and then with fearful voice 
f 4 



72 

He loudly call'd : " What hidden foe hath sent 

" This deadly arrow ? Let him boldly come, 

" And face me, that my gory spear may pass 

" Right thro' his entrails, and his soul descend 

" To Hades ; for I know full well that now 

" There breathes no warrior, who in equal fight 

" Could conquer me, tho' in his bosom dwelt 

" A dauntless heart, and brazen were his limbs. 

" The coward only strives from secret post 

'« The brave to vanquish : let my foe advance, 

" E'en tho' he be a God ! — and now I guess 

" That 'tis Apollo who hath laid me low, 

" For my lov'd mother said, in former days, 

" That I beside the Scaean gate must fall, 

" Slain by his arrows, and her words are sooth." 

He spoke, and from th' immedicable wound 

That pour'd forth spouting blood, he tore the shaft, 

And cast it from him with indignant heart. 



73 

It the swift Breezes caught, (for Fate forbade 

Th* immortal shaft to perish,) and restor'd 

To Phoebus, as he sought th' Olympian heights, 

Where the blest Gods in full assembly sat 

To view the slayers and the slain below : 

Some favour'd Greece, and others wish'd that Troy 

Might prove victorious. But when Juno saw 

Apollo enter the celestial dome, 

With bitter taunts she thus revil'd him ; ft . Why, 

4 • O Phcebus ! hast thou done this ruthless deed ? 

" Thou hast forgot how we Immortals gave 

" The silver-footed Thetis as a bride 

" To Peleus, when emerging from the sea 

" She join'd her husband. At the nuptial feast 

" Thy song was heard; the waving woods were 

" hush'd, 
" The rivers softly flow'd, and mountain beasts, 

" And birds, all tamely crowded round to catch 

v 



74 

" The dulcet ringings of thy golden lyre. 

" Then, too, while quaffing nectar 'mid the Gods, 

" Thou pray'dst that Thetis to her lord might bear 

" A son j but now, unmindful of thy prayer, 

' ' That noble offspring hast thou slain, to please 

° The treacherous people of a crafty king, 

" Laomedon, whose herds and flocks thou fed'st, 

" And who with cruel bondage did oppress 

" Thee, tho' a God. Insensate ! to forget 

" Thy many wrongs; O pitiless ! to slay 

" An hero worthy the esteem of heaven - 3 

" For he was ever pious, and he drew 

" From us his lofty lineage. Yet to Troy 

" The toils of war shall not be lighter, tho' 

" Pelides be no more, for o'er the deep. 

" To aid the Greeks, his blooming son shall come 

" From Scyros, equalling his father's might. 

" 'Twas not regard for Troy that made thee slay 



75 

" The chief, but thou wert envious of his fame, 
" For he was peerless mid the race of men. 
" O fool ! hereafter how canst thou sustain, 
" In Jove's high halls, the gaze of Thetis' eye, 
" Who once beheld thee with a mother's love !" 
She said reproaching, and the son of Jove 
Nought answer'd, (for he reverenc'd much the wife 
Of his almighty father,) but apart 
From th' everlasting Gods he sat, with eyes 
Cast on the starry floor j while some, who wish'd 
The Greeks to prosper, murmur'd at his deed, 
And some, who favour'd Troy, with joyous hearts 
Extoll'd it, but in secret, for they fear'd 
The wrath of Juno. 

On the bloody plain 
Pelides lay, still eager for the fight, 
Tho' life was welling from the fatal wound ; 
Nor dar'd the Trojans near the prostrate chief 



76 

T" advance, but stood afar; as in the woods 

The rustics stand to view a lion die 

Pierc'd by the hunter's shaft, whose flaming eyes 

In death glare fearfully. Upstarting now, 

With brandish'd spear amid the foes he rush'd: 

First Orythaon did he slay, the friend 

Of Hector ; on his temple lights the blow, 

Nor can his casque repel the iron point, 

But thro* the brain it goes. He next assail'd 

Hipponoos i thro' the hollow of his eye 

He drove the spear, and on the ground the orb 

Roll'd gory, while his soul to Hades fled. 

Alcithoos then he slew ; the weapon pierc'd 

His jaw, and cut his tongue in twain, and down 

He fell, and from his ear the point came out. 

These did Pelides slay, and many more, 

For in his veins the blood was warm ; but when 

His stiffening limbs waxd cold, upon his lance 



77 

He leant, and thus address' d the flying foe ; 

" Ye shall not, cowards ! from my spear escape 

" Tho' now I perish, but ye all shall feel 

" The vengeance of my fury." At his words 

The host of Troy, and her auxiliar bands, 

Trembl'd, as stags amid the forest shake 

To hear a lion roaring ; for they thought 

Him yet unwounded. Now, o'erpower'd by death, 

E'en like a mountain fell the godlike chief 

To earth, and loudly rung his polish'd mail. 

As when some beast of prey, by shepherds slain, 

Lies grim beside the fold, the timid flock 

Fears to approach, and dreads it e'en in death ; 

So still the Trojans, tamers of the steed, 

Fear'd the huge corse of Peleus' son, tho' life 

Had fled for ever. 

Paris joy'd to view 
The hero's fall, for now he deem'd that Greece 



78 

No more would mingle in the bloody fray, 

Her bulwark thus oerthrown, and to his band 

He call'd exciting ; " Friends ! the hour is come, 

" When ye must prove, if all your zeal to aid 

u Me in the fight be counterfeit or true : 

" Let us to-day beneath the Grecian spear 

" Or press the plain, or drag to Troy the corse 

" Of Peleus' son, at Hector's chariot-wheels, 

*' Whose steeds, lamenting for their master dear, 

" Now bear me to the battle : so to them 

<{ Will be great glory, and my brother's shade 

" In Hades will rejoice, if to the dead 

° Be sense of joy. As lionesses throng, 

" Or female pards, round him who hath destroyd 

i( Their nmch-lov'd young, so round Athilles' corse, 

<( When dragg'd by us to Troy, exultingly 

" Will rush our Trojan women, for by him 

<( Their husbands, brothers, sons, or sires have bled. 



7<) 

" But most my father, and our elders hoar, 

" Whom age detains within the walls, will joy 

" To view his body, which the birds of heaven 

" Shall tear unburied." Thus he said, and straight 

The dead JEacides, a valiant band, 

Glaucus, Mneas, and Agenor bold, 

And many more who fear'd him when alive, 

Eager to drag the stiffen'd form to Troy, 

Surrounded. Not neglectful of his friend 

Was godlike Ajax ; he to guard the corse 

Impetuous ran, and with protended spear 

Drove back the warriors, who, tho' still repell'd, 

Renew'd on every side their fierce assault. 

As when the yellow bees with quiv'ring wings, 

Innumerable, hover round the hive, 

Eager to chase the clown away, who comes 

To steal their store pellucid, and who scorns 

Their vain attack; so still the chiefs of Troy 



80 

On Ajax rush'd, who all their might despis'd. 

Still the cold body of his much-lov'd friend 
Did Ajax guard, o'erthrowing many a chief: 
And near him, shedding dire dismay around, 
Ulysses fought ; Pisandros first he slew, 
The nimble son of Maenalus, who dwelt 
In fam'd Abydos. Next his weapon pierc'd 
Atymnius, whom the nymph with golden locks, 
Bright Pegasis, to brave Emalion bore, 
Where deep Granicus rolls his lucid stream. 
Oresbius then he struck to earth, whose home 
Was high 'mid Ida's green retreats, nor him 
Did Panacea welcome from the war, 
His tender mother of illustrious name. 
Beneath his might each warrior sunk, who dar'd 
T" approach the body, till on the right knee 
Him with long lance did Alcon wound, and forth 



81 * 

The red blood gush'd, and trickling down distain'd 
The shining greave. Regardless of the blow 
Ulysses straight the daring youth assail'd 
With quiv'ring spear • nor could his shield repel 
The point that piere'd his breast, and to the ground 
Dash'd him, while purple streams deform'd his mail. 
From the stiff limbs, and perforated shield, 
The victor drew the deadly spear, and life 
From Alcon fled. Still reckless of his wound 
Ulysses fought, nor ceased the other chiefs 
Of Greece to war around Achilles' corse 
Assiduous, while the Trojans strew'd the plain, 
Thick as autumnal leaves, that hide the ground 
When ruffian tempests shake the rustling grove. 

'Gainst Ajax now his bow did Paris bend, 
But ere the shaft had flown, the wary Greek 
Hurl'd a huge stone, that on the Trojan's helm 

G 



82 

Lighted, and crush'd his many-colour'd crest. 
Prone in the dust he fell ; his hand unnerv'd 
Let drop the bow, and all his useless shafts 
Were scatter'd. To his car their fainting prince 
His friends uplift, and while a lowly moan 
He utters frequent, Hector's generous steeds 
Convey him quickly to his native walls. 
Nor did his careful train upon the ground 
His scatter'd weapons leave ; with eager haste 
They snatch'd them up, and to their chief restor'd. 
Him as he fled, with clamour loud, bespoke 
Ajax, ft O dog! thou hast escap'd to-day, 
" But death shall soon o'ertake thee, slain by me, 
" Or by some other Greek : 'tis now my care 
" To guard Pelides' body from the foe." 
He said, and on the troops of Troy again 
Turn'd furious, who no more his might resist, 
But from him fly, as vultures on the hills, 



83 

Which from the carcase of a wolf- slain sheep 
The lordly eagle, king of birds, hath scar'd. 
Now at the foe huge stones he cast, and now 
He ply'd his falchion keen, and brandish'd lance. 
Straight to their walls the sons of Ilion rush'd, 
While Ajax follow'd on their rear; his hands 
Were dy'd in gore, and sure he would have heap'd 
The crimson'd plain with piles of reeking dead, 
Had not their city with wide-open'd gates 
Receiv'd them panting. Thus the Trojan bands 
E'en to their walls he chas'd, as to the fold 
The shepherd drives his 3ock ; and now his steps 
Retracing, lightly o'er the plain he mov'd, 
Treading on blood, and mail, and warriors slain, 
For all the ground was strew'd with mangl'd dead 
From Ilion's gates to Helle's sounding sea. 

But not from these defiTd with bloody dust 
g2 



84 

Did the brave Grecians strip their arms, for they 

Were now intent to pay the last sad rites 

To great Pelides, once their boast in war. 

The chiefs of Greece his body from the field 

Of battle brought, with pious care, and laid 

In his own tent, beside the well-beak'd ships. 

Round his cold limbs the people throng'd, and loud 

Their voices rose lamenting, to behold 

Him once their bulwark, by the sounding sea 

Lying, oblivious of the warlike toil. 

He seem'd in mien like Tityus, when he lay 

Immensely stretcht upon his parent Earth, 

Pierc'd by Apollo's winged shafts, because 

The monster dar'd with hands impure assail 

The bright Latona. Grief o'erpower'd their hearts, 

For now they deem'd that they by Ilion's sons 

Must fall in battle. Recollections sweet 

Of their lov'd parents, of their youthful brides, 



85 

Who pin'd all lonely in a widow'd bed, 
And of their blooming children, much increas'd 
Their woe. Beside Achilles' honour' d corse, 
Upon their faces, on the shore, they lay, 
Dissolv'd in sorrow; franticly they tore 
Their clust'ring hair, and o'er their heads they heap'd 
The yellow sand, with many a bitter groan. 
As when the enemy in some fair town 
Hath pent its citizens, and gives to fire 
The regal domes, despoil'd of all their wealth, 
Dire lamentations rise ; such cries were heard 
Along the verge of Helle's sounding sea, 
Mourning iEacides ; who press'd the ground 
Majestic as the mailed Mars, when him 
The warrior-goddess fell'd with pond'rous stone. 
Incessant groans the Myrmidons pour'd forth, 
Stretcht in the dust beside their slaughter'd lord, 
Who ever was most gentle, and to all 
g 3 



86 

A ready comrade, free from pride ; for he 
Was wise as valiant. 

Ajax most deplor'd 
The great Achilles, whom the ties of blood 
Bound to his heart ; now to the tent he rush'd 
Where lay the pallid corse ; now on the shore 
He cast himself ; and then with tears exclaim'd; 
' ' O son of Peleus, bulwark of our host ! 
" Far from thy native Phthia hast thou died 
" At hated Ilion, by a random shaft 
" Slain, which some coward in the fray discharg'd : 
" For sure the chief, whose arm is skill'd to wield 
" The massive buckler, who around his brow 
" Knows how to fit the casque with nodding crest, 
" And who with potent hand can grasp the lance, 
" And drive it forceful thro 5 the brazen mail 
" Of an opposing foe, disdains to shoot 
" Uncertain arrows from a distant post. 



87 

u Had he, who laid thee low, in equal fight 
" Advanc'd to meet thee, then beneath thy spear 
" He must have perish'd. But almighty Jove 
' ' Seems hostile now to Greece, and haply soon 
iC Will give to Ilion victory, since thee, 
" Our matchless bulwark, he hath snatcht away. 
" Alas ! with groans thy hoary sire will fill 
" His mansion, when thy early death is told; 
" The very tale, perchance, will crush his heart, 
" And send him to the grave ; and better 'tis 
' ■ That this should be, than thatth' old man should sit 
" Cheerless beside his solitary hearth, 
" Bent down by age, and by consuming woe — 
u Peleus, whom once the friendship of the Gods 
" So highly honour'd !" Thus he spoke, and next 
The aged Phoenix, clasping the cold form 
Of his Achilles, pour'd the loud lament ; 
" Untimely hast thou perish'd, O my child! 
g 4 



88 

" And ceaseless grief is mine. Ere this sad day 

" O ! would the earth had o'er my tomb been heapt, 

t( For ne'er on me did greater sorrow fall ; 

,e Not e'en when I my country left, and fled 

' ' To Peleus' court, whose hospitable halls 

i( Receiv'd me. Many gifts he gave, and o'er 

" Dolopia bade me rule : thee in his arms 

e< He brought an infant, on my bosom laid 

" The precious charge, and anxiously enjoin'd, 

' ' That I should rear thee as my own with all 

" A parent's love. I fail'd not in my trust; 

" And oft, while round my neck thy hands were 

lock'd, 
" From thy sweet lips the half- articulate sound 
" Of father came ; and oft, as children use, 
" Mewling and puking did'st thou drench my tunic. 
" Upon thy growing infancing I gaz'd 
« Exulting, for I hop'd in thee to find 



" The guard of my declining years ; and long 
" Thou prospered' st to my wishes — but, alas ! 
<f Now Stygian darkness holds thee, and to me 
" Is bitter anguish, which I hope will end 
' ' My life, ere Peleus hears thy timeless fate -, 
' ' For with exceeding sorrow he will mourn : 
" Haply consuming grief will send us both 
" To the cold grave : and better there to lie, 
" Than live without the darling of our age." 
He said, and then with tears Atrides thus ; 
" Thou art no more, O bravest of our host ! 
" Thou art no more, and thou hast left the sons 
" Of Greece defenceless. Now the Trojan bands, 
" Who fled from thee, as sheep the lion shun, 
" E'en to our ships will boldly rush, and dare 

" The battle. Dost thou too, O mighty Jove ! 
' ' With lying words deceive unhappy men ? 
" For thou didst once assure me that my arms 



90 

" Should lay king Priam's lofty turrets low. 

" But all my hopes are frustrate, and I think 

" That I shall never find an end of war 

" Since Peleus' son hath perish'd." Thus he spoke, 

And all the people rais'd the loud lament, 

While the ships echoed to their groans. As when, 

Disturb'd by furious winds, the swelling deep 

Rolls its long whitening waves, and dashes them 

With deaf ning uproar on the dripping rocks 

That line the strand ; such clamour rose to heaven 

While all the people for Achilles mourn'd 

With lamentations ; and the spangled night 

Would sure have found them still indulging griefj 

Had not old Nestor thus bespoke the son 

Of Atreus ; ' ' Sceptred leader of the Greeks ! 

" Let us forthwith from lamentation cease, 

" Else shalt thou strive in vain for many days 

" To stay thy people's sorrow. Let us wash 



91 

" The clotted blood from great Achilles' corse, 
" And lay it on the bier, for 'tis not right 
" To be neglectful of the mighty dead." 
He said, and straight the monarch bids his train 
Place cauldrons on the fire with water fill'd, 
And wash the corse, and wrap it with due care 
In vestures beautiful of ocean's die, 
Which to her child, ere he for Ilion sail'd, 
Immortal Thetis gave. Their king's behest 
Th' attendants execute, and in the tent 
Cleanse and adorn the body. 

Pity now 
For slain ^Eacides Minerva feels, 
And from corruption to preserve the corse 
She drops ambrosial unguents on his head, 
A dewy freshness and the glow of life 
Diffusing. On his arched brows she sets 
A look severe, such as his features wore 



92 

When his Patroclus fell by Hector's lance : 
His form an awful majesty invests, 
And like one buried in a sleep profound 
The couch he presses. 

On the corse the Greeks 
Astonish'd gaze. Around it women throng, 
Whom great Achilles once in war had ta'en 
Captive, when Lemnos he laid waste, and Thebes, 
Eetion's city, with the lofty gates. 
Their snowy breasts they beat with frantic hand 
Wounding their beauty, while they shrilly mourn' d 
Their perish'd lord, who ne'er to menial toil 
Compell'd them, tho' the offspring «of his foes. 
But most of all did sad Briseis grieve, 
The beauteous paramour of Peleus' son ; 
Shrieking she mov'd around his corse, and tore 
Her tender flesh ; and bloody tumours rose 
Upon her bosom ; yet could naught obscure 






93 

Her loveliness : at length she thus exclaim'd : 

<c Ah me ! most miserable of woman kind ! 

" Nor for my kindred, nor the loss of home, 

" Griev'd I so much as now for thee ; thou wert 

" The light of day to me ! my very life ! 

" My hope of good ! the solace of my woes ! 

'* And far more dear than beauty, or the love 

" Of parents ! Thou wert all to me, whom thou 

" From a slave's low estate did'st raise, and take 

" To share thy bed. But now some other Greek 

" Will bear me off to Sparta's fertile fields, 

<c Or sandy Argos; and I there shall toil 

" Once more in bondage. Would the heap'd-up 

" earth 
" Had held me cold, ere I had seen thee dead !" 
She said lamenting, and her eyes pour'd forth 
Fast flowing tears, as from the riven rock 
A fountain sends its ever-trilling stream 



94 

By ice and snow supplied, which Phoebus melts 
With arrowy rays. 

Now in the hoary deep 
Old Nereus' daughters heard the loud lament ; 
Within their breasts exceeding grief arose, 
And Helle's tide resounded to their cries. 
In azure garments, from the parted wave, 
Emerging, thro' the liquid air they sail'd 
Tumultuous, as a flock of long-bill'd cranes 
That fly the coming storm. Beside the ships 
Of Greece they lighted, and with groans deplor'd 
The mighty offspring of their sister dear. 
The Muses too were there ; for they had left 
The heights of Helicon, and sorrowing came 
To pleasure bright-ey'd Thetis, and enhance 
The funeral honours of her warlike son. 
Jove made the Grecian bands devoid of fear 
That they might face the Deities who stood 



95 

Lamenting ; loudly did the people mourn, 

And tears were glittering on their polish'd mail. 

Then Thetis, clasping her beloved child, 

And on his lips imprinting many a kiss, 

Exclaim'd, e ' Let now the Goddess of the dawn, 

" In rosy vest array'd, rejoice ! Let now 

" The limpid Axius joy, and rage no more 

" For his Asteropaeus ! Let the race 

" Of Priam now be glad ! — but I will mount 

" To blue Olympus, and before the feet 

' • Of Jove will lie, and pour forth bitter groans, 

" For that he gave me to a mortal's arms, 

" Whom age hath seiz'd, and silent death awaits. 

1 ' His bed I loath'd, and oft from his embrace 

" I slid away, into a stream dissolv'd, 

" Then would I dart a winged bird to heaven, 

" And next I blaz'd a fire with bickering flames, 

" Nor could he win me to his love, till Jove 



96 

K With awful nod assur'd me that my son 

" Should peerless be in form and martial might ; 

" Peerless he was, indeed, but ah ! short liv'd, 

" And hence my sorrow. To th' Olympian halls 

" I now will hasten, to lament my child, 

" And to upbraid the cruel king of heaven, 

" Reminding him how I his fetters loos'd 

" When hostile Gods assail'd him." Thetis said, 

And her the wise Calliope bespoke ; 

" Daughter of Nereus ! cease thy wail, and stay 

" Thy murmurs 'gainst the ruler of the skies ; 

" For e'en the demigods, the sons of Jove, 

" To death are subject all : nor could I save 

" My child, enchanting Orpheus, whom the rocks, 

" The waving forests, and blue-gushing streams, 

" Pursu'd, enamour'd of his thrilling shell. 

" He died, alas ! but I restrain'd my grief 

" Since 'tis unseemly in the powers divine, 



97 

" To cherish fruitless woe. Thy darling son 

" Forbear to mourn, for him shall mighty bards, 

u Inspir'd by me, and by my sisters, give 

" To deathless glory. Like a mortal then 

" Withgroans lament not: sure thou know'st that Fate, 

" To Gods superior, o'er the race of men 

" Holds absolute dominion ; when she bids 

" The towers of Troy must fall, and many a youth, 

•• Grecian, and Trojan, on the plain must lie." 

Thus spoke the Muse : now sunk the flaming Sun 

In ocean's bed, and Night with darkness fill'd 

Th' expanse of air. Upon the sand the Greeks 

Slept round the corse ; but slumber from the eyes 

Of Thetis fled : beside her son she stood 

With the immortal Nereids, while the Nine 

Alternate strove to soothe her bitter woe. 

When o'er the purple hills Aurora spreads 



98 

Her beamy radiance, straight the Grecians place 

Pelides' corse upon the pyre, which they 

Of heap'd-up wood had rais'd, on Ida's hill 

With labour felFd. Bright arras of slaughter' d foes 

On it they cast, and o'er it captive youths 

Of Trojan race and beauteous form they slew. 

Sheep too and swine were slain to feed the flames, 

And handmaids brought with lamentations loud 

Robes of embroidery rare, to swell the pile, 

And gold, and amber. Their long clust'ring locks 

The Myrmidons above the body strew'd, 

Nor did Briseis spare her tresses bright, 

But gave them, a last present, to her lord. 

Rich unguents next upon the pyre were thrown, 

And lucid honey, and odorous wine, 

And exquisite perfumes of wond'rous worth 

Gather'd from earth and ocean. Round it then 

The troops, all furnish'd with their shining arms, 



99 

In order mov'd, on foot and on their steeds. 
Now awful Jove celestial dews distill' d 
Upon the corse, and Hermes to the realms 
Of iEolus despatch'd, to call the Winds 
To fan the fire of great Pelides' pile. 
Quick at the bidding of their king rush forth 
Boreas and Zephyrus ; scouring land and sea 
They speed with fury, and before them drive 
The eddying rack. Upon the pyre they fall 
With mingled violence, and black'ning smoke 
Tnd curling flames ascend the sky, while still 
The Myrmidons lament. The livelong day, 
And all the night the Winds incessant blew, 
Ere the huge mass o'erpower'd by Vulcan's strength 
Had sunk to ashes ; the embattled clouds 
They then dispell'd, and to their caves repair'd. 
The Myrmidons to quench the embers pour'd 
Rich wine, and carefully their Hero's bones 
h2 



100 

(Which were of mould gigantic, and unlike 
To those of Ilion's youths that near him lay) 
They gather'd groaning -, and the Nereids fair 
Wrapt them in fat, and in an ample urn, 
Mid honey and ambrosial ointments, stor'd : 
The silver urn with golden forms emboss'd 
By Vulcan's art did Thetis give, and she 
From Bacchus had receiv'd it. 

On a cliff 
That frowns o'er Helle's wave, the Grecians rais'd 
The tomb and monument of Peleus' son 
With bitter grief; nor were his deathless steeds 
Devoid of sorrow ; plenteous tears they shed, 
And loathing amid wretched men to dwell, 
Long'd o'er the ocean-streams to seek the fields 
In which to Zephyr of the sounding wings 
Podarge bore them. But the will of heaven 
On Phrygia's strand detain'd them, till the son 



101 

Of great Achilles should from Scyros come : 
For at their birth the Fates severe decreed 
That they, tho' of immortal seed, should first 
Be curb'd by Neptune ; by bold Peleus next, 
Then by Pelides greater than his sire, 
And last by Neoptolemus, whom they 
Were doom'd hereafter to th' Elysian plains 
To bear in glory. Conscious of the will 
Of heaven their lost Achilles they lament, 
Yet long their coming master to behold. 

Now from the bosom of the swelling deep 
Neptune emerg'd, and standing on the shore, 
Invisible to mortals, thus address'd 
The weeping Thetis, " Dry thy useless tears, 
" For not in Hades shall thy child abide, 
" But borne aloft to Jove's resplendent halls, 
" He at the heavenly banquets shall recline, 
h3 



102 

" Like Bacchus and Alcmena s mighty son. 

" There is an island in the Euxine sea 

" Where, by my power, Achilles shall be deem'd 

" A God ; and him with sacrificial rites 

" The neighbouring nations shall adore. Then 

(i Thy piteous wail, and unavailing tears." 

He said, and vanish'd in the hoary deep, 

And beauteous Thetis from his words receiv'd 

A little consolation. To their ships 

The Greeks retire, to Helicon again 

The Muses speed, and all the Nereids plunge 

Into the billows mourning Peleus' son. 



THE 

SHIELD AND HELMET 

OF 

ACHILLES. 

From Book V. 



H4 



THE 
SHIELD AND HELMET 

OF 

ACHILLES 



MlD the assembly, when the games were done, 
The Goddess-mother plac'd the wond'rous arms 
Of great Pelides, fram'd by art divine. 
In the wide circle of the shield were seen 

Refulgent images of varied forms, 
The work of Vulcan ; who had there describ'd 
The Heaven, the Ether, and the Earth and Sea, 
The Winds, the Clouds, the Moon, the Sun, apart 
In different stations ; and you there might view 
The stars that gem the still-revolving heaven, 
And, under them, the vast expanse of air, 



106 

In which, with outstretch'd wings, the long-beak'd 

birds 
Winnow'd the gale, as if instinct with life. 
Around the shield the waves of ocean flow'd, 
The realms of Tethys, which unnumber'd streams, 
In azure mazes rolling o'er the earth, 
Seem'd to augment. On the green hills appear'd 
Bears, lions, panthers, and spine-bristling boars, 
Whetting their bright tusks 'gainst the hunter's train, 
That closely chas'd them, arm 'd with darts and stones, 
And urging on the panting dogs. And here 
Were horrid wars depicted ; grimly pale 
Were heroes lying with their slaughter 'd steeds 
Upon the ground incarnadin'd with blood. 
Stern stalk' d Bellona, smear'd with reeking gore, 
Thro' charging ranks ; beside her Rout was seen, 
And Terror, Discord to the fatal strife 
Inciting men, and Furies breathing flames : 



107 

Nor absent were the Fates, and the tall shape 

Of ghastly Death, round whom did Battles throng, 

Their limbs distilling plenteous blood and sweat, 

AndGorgons, whose long locks were twisting snakes, 

That shot their forky tongues incessant forth. 

Such were the horrors of dire war ; and all 

Were with such cunning art portray'd, they struck 

The gazer with affright. But here were seen 

The joys of Peace ; in beauteous towns appear'd 

The busy citizens, on various works 

Intent, while Justice rul'd them ,• and the ground 

Gave plentiful the grain, and vineyards glow'd 

With clust'ring grapes empurpled. Here arose 

A mountain high and craggy ; on its top 

A palm-tree grew, upon whose loftiest branch 

Was Virtue standing, while her tow'ring form 

Reach'd the blue heaven : paths leading up the hill 

Were many, but projecting rocks oft barr'd 



108 

Th' ascent ; of all the mortals who essay 'd 
To climb, a few persisted ; most were seen 
Returning, wearied with the toilsome way. 
Here was a corn field; reapers in a row, 
Each with a sharp-tooth'd sickle in his hand 
Work'd busily, and as the harvest fell, 
Others were ready still to bind the sheaves : 
Yok'd to a wain that bore the corn away 
Here steers were moving ; sturdy bullocks here 
The plough were drawing, and the furrow'd glebe 
Was black behind them, while with goading wand 
The active youths impelTd them. Here a feast 
Was grav'd : to the shrill pipe and ringing lyre 
A band of blooming virgins led the dance, 
As if endu'd with life ; while, to behold 
Their varied measures, and the festive mirth, 
Venus emerging from the deep stood nigh, 
Her tresses wet with ocean's silvery foam ; 



J 09 

With her the Graces came, and round her still 
On rosy wings did Cupid hover. Here 
The daughters of the ancient Nereus led 
Thetis, their sister, to the nuptial bowers 
Of Peleus, on Thessalia's pine-capt hill, 
Where all th' Immortals held the solemn feast 
Rejoicing : and around were verdant meads 
Irriguous, flush'd with flowers, and nodding groves, 
And fountains most translucent. Here the sea 
Was pictured stormy : on the tumbling waves 
Vessels were riding, some obliquely driven, 
And some straighton wards; dreading the wild storm, 
Their snowy sails the mariners with speed 
Were low'ring ; others on the benches sat 
Plying their oars, from whose repeated strokes 
The dark-blue waves around were crested white. 
Here in his chariot, by sea-horses drawn, 
Whose speed was quicken'd by a golden lash, 



no 

Appear'd earth-shaking Neptune ; where he mov'd, 

Down fell th' enridged billows, and the brine 

Grew level ; sporting round their awful king 

Unwieldy monsters of the deep were seen 

In multitudes ; and tho' of silver fram'd 

Thou would'st have deem'd them living. Other 

shapes, 
Innumerous, upon the wond'rous work 
By Vulcan's art were pictur'd ; round the whole 
Flow'd the full swell of ocean, and confind 
Th' all-variegated shield. 

Beside it lay, 
Weighty and huge, the helm of Peleus' son : 
On it was fashion* d, horrid all in gold, 
The form of Jove ; he seem'd to tread the sky 
In anger, and th' auxiliar gods around 
In stern array against the Titans stood ; 
From heaven unceasingly the lightnings flew 



Ill 

Reiterated, for his all of might 

Did Jove put forth, and the gigantic brood, 

Panting, were shrouded in a blaze of fire. 



NOTES. 



NOTES. 



Page 4. line 15. Penihesilea.'] In the Iliad no men- 
tion is made of Amazons assisting the Trojans : they 
were introduced at the siege of Troy by the Cyclic 
Poets, and first (as is supposed by Heyne, Excurs. 
xix. ad iEneid. 1.) by Arctinus the Milesian. 

Tryphiodorus takes notice of the death of Penthe- 
silea, (32 — 38.) and Virgil makes her one of the 
principal figures in the picture on the wall of the 
temple at Carthage, describing her in four verses of 
transcendant beauty. (Mn. i. 490 — 3.) Tzetzes, too, 
" stolidae jactantiae homo/' as Heyne calls him, gives 
a long account of Penthesilea, in his Posthomerica, 
somewhat different from that of Quintus. 

P. 9- I. 13. Homer tells us (Iliad 24.) that 
Achilles dragged the body of Hector round the tomb 
of Patroclus, but says nothing of its being drawn 
round the walls of Troy: the latter circumstance 

i 2 



110 



was without doubt an invention of those poets who 
continued " the tale of Troy" after Homer, and 
whom Virgil has followed, (Mneid i. v. 483.) when 
he says, in describing the picture in the Carthaginian 
temple, 

Thrice round the Trojan walls Achilles drew 
The corse of Hector, whom in fight he slew. 

Dkydem. 

P. 10. 1. 6. — a fraudful dream.'] Tzetzes says, 
" that, during the night before the death of Penthe- 
silea, Juno sent two mournful dreams, one to Priam, 
and one to the Amazon. Priam dreamed that 
Hector had returned to life, that he was as valiant 
as ever, but wore the figure of a maid, and that 
Achilles slew him. Penthesilea thought that her 
mother was giving her as a bride to a fair-haired, 
beautiful youth, whom when she was about to 
follow, a man black as pitch, of savage appearance 
and gigantic stature, with an hundred heads, bear- 
ing a brazen lance, and mounted on a fiercely -snort- 
ing steed, suddenly seized, and threw her into a 
dismal dungeon." Posthomcrica, 119 — 134. 

P. 15. 1. 18. Protesilaus, son of lphiclus, king of 



117 



Phylace in Thessaly, was the first of the Greeks who 
set his foot on the Trojan shore, and was imme- 
diately slain. See Iliad, ii. 698. 

P. 34. 1. 1. — next, her beamy helm, &c] Our 
Spenser has imitated this passage in his Faery 
Queene, b. v. c. 5. 

XI. 

Having her thus disarmed of her shield, 
Upon her helmet he againe her strooke, 
That downe she fell upon the grassie field 
In sense^esse swoune, as if her life forsooke, 
And pangs of death her spirit overtooke : 
Whom when he saw before his foote prostrated 
He to her lept with deadly dreadful looke, 
And her sun-shynie helmet soone unlaced 
Thinking at once both head and helmet to have rac'd. 

XII. 

But Avheneas he discovered had her face, 
He saw, his senses straunge astonishment, 
A miracle of nature's goodly grace 
In her faire visage void of ornament, 
But bathed in blood and sweat together ment, 
Which in the rudenesse of that evill plight 
Bewrayd the signs of feature excellent : 
Like as the moone in foggie winter's night 
Doth sceme to be herselfe, though darkned be her light. 



118 

XIII. 

At sight thereof his cruell minded hart 
Empierced was with pittifull regard, &c. 

P. 34. 1. 16. The valiant maid.] According to 
Tzetzes, Penthesilea was quite a girl ; 

Posthom. 198. 

Propertius says, that after her death, her beauty con- 
quered the conqueror ; 

Aurea cui postquam nudavit cassida frontem, 
Vicit victorem Candida forma virum. 

Lib. hi. el. 10. 

P. 41. 1. 1. Arctinus wrote a poem on the story 
of Memnon, called iEthiopis, from which Quintus 
no doubt borrowed much in his second book. 

P. 49. 1. 8. Homer tells us (Odyssey iv. 388.) 
that Antilochus was slain by Memnon. 

P. 50. 1. 3. Periclymenus was one of the twelve 
sons of Neleus, and brother of Nestor -, he was 
slain by Hercules. 

P. 58. 1. 1. the Titration king.'] Lycurgus king 



119 

of Thrace, drove Bacchus and his worshippers from 
his kingdom. 

P. 58. 1. 4. We are told by Homer (Iliad i. 399.) 
that Juno, Neptune, and Minerva, wished to bind 
Jupiter in chains, and that Thetis prevented 
them. 

P. 61. 1. 13. The Winds, her offspring—] 

The Morning to Astraeus bare the Winds 
Of spirit untani'd ; East, West, and South, and North 
Cleaving his rapid course ; a Goddess thus 
Embracing with a God. 

Hesiod. Theog. 378. Elton's trans. 

P. 65. 1. 1?- — and still retain 

The name of their lov'd leader."] 
They were called Memnones. 

P. 72. 1. 15. The poets give different accounts of 
the death of Achilles. Sophocles agrees with Quin- 
tus; Neoptolemus, being asked by Philoctetes 
concerning his father, replies, 

He is no more, tho' not by mortal arm 
Subdu'd, but by the arrow of a God. 

Soph. Phil. 334. 



1-20 



The following remarks are from Merrick's notes 
on Tryphiodorus : 

The death of Achilles is told by the author, who 
goes under the name of Dictys Cretensis, and pre- 
tends to have been present at the siege of Troy, in 
the following manner. Achilles being informed 
that Hecuba and the rest of the Trojan matrons 
were preparing a sacrifice to Apollo, went secretly 
with a few attendants to observe the ceremony. 
He there fell in love with Polyxena the daughter 
of Priam, and sent an ambassador to Troy with 
proposals of marriage, to which Priam at last con- 
sented. But just at the celebration of their nuptials, 
Deiphobus, the brother of Polyxena, ran to embrace 
Achilles, while Paris came behind him, and killed 
him. Dictys. 1. 4. 

Ovid and others affirm that he was slain by 
Paris before the walls of Troy, and that Apollo 
directed the dart. This account agrees with a pro- 
phecy made to him in the twenty-second book of 
the Iliad; where Hector, dying by his hand, breaks 
out into these expressions ; 

But oh, be cautious now, lest Heaven, perchance, 
Requite thee on that day, when pierc'd thyself 



121 

By Paris and Apollo, thou shalt fall, 
Brave as thou art, within the Scaean gate. 

COWI'ER. 

P. 73. 1. 12. The marriage of Peleus and Thetis 
is a theme on which the mind of Quintus seems to 
have dwelt with great pleasure, as particular men- 
tion of it occurs several times in his poem. Coluthus, 
in his " Rape of Helen," enumerates very elegantly 
the immortal personages who were present on that 
occasion ; 

When Peleus wedded an immortal bride, 
Where towers Thessalia's mount in rocky pride, 
To grace the nuptials of the Nereid, there 
With joyous speed the Powers divine repair. 
The Thunderer came from blue Olympus steep, 
And Neptune left the roarings of the deep ; 
The sister Nine, and Phoebus there were seen 
Amid the throng, and heaven's majestic Queen, 
And laughing Venus of voluptuous mien. 
Persuasion sought the Centaur's bowery grove, 
While beauteous garlands for the bride she wove, 
And bore the quiver of the archer Love. 
Pallas was there, but laid her helmet by 
With nodding crest discolour' d diversely. 
To join the train bright Dian left the chace, 
And mailed Mars, the nuptial feast to grace, 
K 



122 

Without his blood- stain'd spear or buckler came, 
And smil'd, as when he courted Vulcan's wanton dame. 
Bacchus conspicuous mov'd, while on the air 
Floated the tangles of his golden hair, 
That Zephyr lifted from his shoulders fair. 

P. 88. 1. 11. — I failed not in my trust, 
And oft, $c.~\ 
The description here of the infancy of Achilles is 
partly taken from a passage in Iliad IX. in trans- 
lating which, Pope, with that squeamish artificial 
taste, which distinguishes the age of Anne, omits 
this natural (and, let me add, affecting) circum- 
stance : 

and the wine 

Held to thy lips ; and many a time in fits 
Of infant frowardness, the purple juice 
Rejecting, thou hast delug'd all my vest, 

And fill'd my bosom. 

Cowper. 

P. 95. 1. 8. Asteropaeus was a prince of Paeonia, 
slain by Achilles, to whom he says, 

My proud descent 
I draw from Axius, Axius fairest stream 
That waters earth, and Pelegon his son 
If rumour err not, is my glorious sire. 

Iliad. XXI. (Cowper.) 



123 

P. 100. I. 8. On a cliff] The promontory of 
Sigeum. 

P. 102. 1. 2. The island Achillea, in the Euxine, 
at the mouth of the Ister. 

P. 103. 1. 1. Quintus was bold in attempting to 
rival Homers description of the shield of Achilles, 
which the reader will find in Cowper's eighteenth 
Iliad. 



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